Weekly Update: November 9 to November 13
Greetings, Grizzly Families!
This week's update is a long one, but it includes a lot of important information. Make sure that you read to the end, as there is an important message from our School Council.
I have excellent news to share—finally, the next steps of our modernization are underway! Read on for specifics. This week we used Grizzly Den to observe Remembrance Day. We will also have a moment of silence on Tuesday this week. Don't forget that this is a short week--only two days of classes.
CONNECTING HOME AND SCHOOL: Helping Teenagers Get to School on Time
Last week I asked families to continue to support their child's on-time attendance at school. I thought that it would be fitting to provide some informaion on this topic for the next few weeks.
Getting teenagers to school on time can be a challenge, especially when they are tired, distracted, or still developing organizational skills. The most effective approach is to build independence, establish consistent routines, and help teens take ownership of being punctual, rather than relying on reminders and nagging.
Here are some practical strategies for parents of junior high students.
1. Prepare the night before
Mornings are easier when fewer decisions need to be made. Encourage your teen to:
- Pack their backpack and check that assignments are ready.
- Choose clothing and prepare anything needed for the day.
- Charge their phone outside the bedroom, if late-night phone use affects sleep.
- Set a bedtime that allows for enough sleep. Teenagers generally need 8–10 hours each night.
Parent tip: Instead of doing these tasks for your teen, ask, “What can you do tonight to make tomorrow morning easier?”
2. Create a realistic morning routine
Work backward from the time school starts. If your teen needs to leave home at 8:15 a.m., determine how much time they need to get dressed, eat breakfast, gather belongings, and travel to school.
- Set an alarm that allows enough time to get ready.
- Establish a clear time to leave the house.
- Build in a five- to ten-minute buffer for unexpected delays.
- Use a checklist or morning schedule until the routine becomes a habit.
3. Shift responsibility to your teen
Constantly reminding teenagers to get up, get dressed, and leave on time can unintentionally teach them to depend on adults to manage their mornings.
Try asking questions that encourage problem-solving:
- “What time do you need to get up to be ready on time?”
- “What usually slows you down in the morning?”
- “What could you change tomorrow to make things go more smoothly?”
- “What do you think you should do if you realize you're running late?”
Allow your teen to help develop the plan and take responsibility for following it.
A Simple Family Plan to Try this Week:
At the end of the week, ask your teen: “What went well? What was difficult? What is one thing you want to change next week?”
The aim is gradual progress toward independence, not a perfect morning every day.
A message for parents to remember: Teenagers are still learning to manage their time and responsibilities. A calm, consistent approach that combines clear expectations with growing independence is more likely to build lasting punctuality than repeated reminders or arguments.
Retrieved on October 31, 2026, from https://chatgpt.com/c/6ae6aac7-e7a0-83e8-a89f-68c0a2da0648
DID YOU KNOW?
NEW: Update | Annie Gale School Modernization Project
We are excited to share that the much-anticipated Annie Gale School modernization project is ready to begin its next stage with construction mobilization activities beginning on or around November 16, with full project completion and school fully reopening anticipated for Spring 2029. To view project updates, including the phased approach, please visit cbe.ab.ca/annie-gale-school.
Mobilization activities may include the arrival of construction equipment and materials in preparation for construction. Measures will be in place throughout this project to support the safety and well-being of students, staff, and community members. Construction areas will be securely fenced, and contractors will follow established safety protocols while working on site. Current arrangements for school operations, including classes and programming will continue as planned, with any changes being communicated in advance, as well as any impact on school access, parking or traffic.
We appreciate your patience and support as this important work gets underway. If you have any questions about this work, you may reach out to facilityprojects@cbe.ab.ca.
NEW: Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up on November 26 and November 27. Stay tuned for more information.
NEW: October Fun Lunch Late Delivery
As you likely heard, we had a bumpy Fun Lunch in October due to an unexpected issue with our vendor. Hats off to Jenn L and Crystal B from Parent Council for managing the complexity on the fly and getting the ordered lunches delivered.
If your family placed an order in October, we apologize for the confusion and the late arrival of the food. Each impacted family has received $5 from Healthy Hunger as a token of appreciation and an apology for the delay. You can apply this to your next order!
As always, if you have feedback about our lunches, please reach out to Parent Council at anniegalepesa@gmail.com.
NEW: Save on Student Study Guides - Until November 20, 2026
We are excited to share a special offer for The Key Study Guides through EducationMatters. You can purchase valuable study materials at a significant discount and help raise funds for EducationMatters.
This is a great opportunity to get supplementary resources to support your student’s learning this school year, especially in preparation for exams, diplomas, and PATs.
How to Order:
- Visit CBE’s unique online portal: CBE Site Sale — Castle Rock Research
- Select our school’s specific ordering page.
- Place your order and pay directly online.
All print materials will be delivered to the school and distributed to students.
*Order here* https://castlerockresearch.com/cbe-site-sale
NEW: Our last field trip brought to light some concerns we've been having at the school over the last several years. Field trips take hours to plan and those plans include ordering tickets, ensuring adequate supervision, ordering transportation, planning for the pre, during, and post-activity learning, scheduling timetables for teachers remaining behind and for those who are on the trip, and planning for those students who do not attend. Receiving late forms and payment makes the task of organizing the trip extremely difficult, so we are implementing a new policy which requires that all forms and payments are due one week prior to the trip departure. We will communicate the dates to families via School Messenger and students will be responsible for getting forms home to be signed and returning them on time. Parents are responsible for signing the forms and taking care of payment. We appreciate your understanding as we implement this policy to ensure that future field trips are planned well, and that all who choose to attend can do so.
NEW: Community Education Service Sessions
The sessions from Community Education Services focus on supporting child and youth well-being. Hosted by the Recovery Alberta Community Education Service (CES) Program in collaboration with experts from the Calgary community, these sessions are designed to equip families with the knowledge, tools, and strategies to navigate topics related to student well-being.
These sessions are free and provide information, resources, helplines, and services to support healthy child and youth development.
Link: Community Education Services | Family and Caregivers
REPEAT: Grade 8 students will be attending a field trip to the Calgary Zoo on Tuesday, November 24 or Thursday, November 26. Forms must be signed and returned before Tuesday, November 17. The fee on PowerSchool must also be paid before that date. If you are having difficulty paying the fee online, please call the main office and our admin secretaries will be happy to assist you! We are also looking for 6 parent volunteers to help with supervision during the field trip. If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to your child's science teacher.
REPEAT: Our late policy encourages students to be on time for school in the morning and after lunch. Students who have 3 lates in a month will be assigned a 20-minute lunchtime detention. Students who have 4 lates in a month will be assigned a 30-minute lunchtime detention and will call home to alert parents/guardians. Students who have 5 or more lates in a month will serve another 30-minute lunchtime detention, and parents/guardians will be contacted for a meeting to discuss the concern.
REPEAT: Soccer team jerseys must be returned to coaches—to encourage their return, the potluck parties for the teams will take place once all jerseys are returned.
REPEAT: Fun Lunch is scheduled for Wednesday, November 25, 2026.
REPEAT: Our next school council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 24, at 6:30 p.m. For those who cannot attend in person, a link will be sent the afternoon of the meeting date.
Monday, November 9 – TLC students in formal uniforms
- 2:45 – 4:00 | Senior Boys Basketball Practice
Tuesday, November 10 - Last Day of School Before Fall Break
- 2:45 – 4:00 | Wrestling Practice
- 2:45 – 3:45 | Senior Girls Basketball Practice
Wednesday, November 11 – NO SCHOOL: REMEMBRANCE DAY
Thursday, November 12 – NO SCHOOL: FALL BREAK
Friday, November 13 – NO SCHOOL: FALL BREAK
As always, should you have questions or concerns, please call the office.
Sincerely,
Tammy Quiring
(Proud) Principal
Message from School Council
Dear Annie Gale Families,
Our Parent Council had the privilege of being invited to Lester B. Pearson High School's Parent Council meeting last month, alongside representatives from their feeder Junior High school councils.
This was a wonderful opportunity to collaborate, share ideas, ask questions, and learn from the experiences of other school communities.
One of the most significant takeaways for our group was gratitude for our incredible Admin Team, Teachers, and Staff at Annie Gale.
To be clear, all Principals, Teachers, and school staff have our utmost respect. They do incredibly important work, often while navigating limited resources and the challenges associated with government funding. Junior High can be a challenging time for students and families alike, and educators across all schools deserve our thanks and appreciation.
During the Pearson meeting, we heard about some of the unique challenges other school communities are navigating, particularly around student behaviour, accountability, and maintaining positive learning environments. These conversations reminded us just how fortunate we are to enjoy such a collaborative and supportive school community at Annie Gale. They also reinforced the importance of working together as families, educators, and students to preserve and strengthen that environment.
We wanted to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible Admin, Staff, and Teacher team.
Thank you for being so collaborative, approachable, and forward-thinking with our families. From the Sunday messages to the opportunities for community connection at school events, we are so appreciative of your commitment to keeping families informed and engaged.
Thank you for encouraging our students to be on time, both in the morning and after lunch. We recognize that life happens and occasional lateness is inevitable, but we appreciate the emphasis on personal responsibility and accountability. Thank you also for helping to facilitate the creation of the COURAGE model and for the work you continue to do to foster leadership, respect, and creative thinking in our students.
Of course, building a positive school culture is a shared responsibility. As parents and caregivers, we play an essential role in reinforcing the values, expectations, and behaviours encouraged at school. Whether that means supporting punctuality, encouraging respectful behaviour, helping our children navigate challenges, or simply staying connected with their school experience, our involvement makes a meaningful difference. When families and educators work together, our students are the ones who benefit most.
And that brings us to one final invitation!
Parent Council is for everyone, and we would love to see more families get involved!
Whether you've attended every meeting, joined us once, or have never participated before, you are always welcome. You don't need previous experience, a specific role, or a great deal of free time to make a valuable contribution. Sometimes, simply bringing a new perspective, asking a question, or sharing an idea can make a real difference.
Meetings are available both online and in person, and new business, questions, and ideas are always encouraged. We recognize that families have busy schedules and competing commitments, but we hope you'll consider joining us when you can.
Our school community is strongest when families feel connected, informed, and empowered to participate. Together with our incredible school team, we can continue to make Annie Gale a place where students feel supported, respected, and encouraged to succeed.
Thank you for being part of our Annie Gale community!
Warmly,
Laurel Hatch
President, Annie Gale Parent Council